Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) snatched victory from Caleb Ewan (Orica-Scott) and Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) at the end of a fast second stage at the Abu Dhabi Tour, coming from behind in the sprint to beat them both to the line with a desperate but decisive bike throw.
Ewan thought he had won, raising his arms as he hit the line but Kittel came up quickly on his right and won by less than half a wheel. He let out a roar in celebration, punching the air, after a tense 24 hours following his crash on stage 1 and the polemics over him using disc brakes. Out of respect for his fellow riders Kittel opted to use a normal bike during stage 2, with the change clearly not affecting him.
Matteo Pelucchi (Bora-hansgrohe) was fourth, with Phil Bauhaus (Team Sunweb) fifth and Elia Viviani (Team Sky) sixth.
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"I think this is a very beautiful moment. Yesterday we lost not only the stage victory but also some skin... Today I had another chance, I was very motivated and I'm very happy now,” Kittel said at the finish.
The different sprinters and their teams opted for different strategies for the fast finish. Dimension Data led Cavendish into the final kilometre and then he skilfully jumped on Ewan’s wheel after Orica-Scott took control before the final curve into finishing straight. The young Australian kicked hard and managed to hold off the Manxman’s effort but Kittel surged up this right side as the line approached, using his huge power and speed.
“Our plan was to come at the last moment to the front, I think we did it very well, almost too late...” Kittel joked.
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